America's most award-winning magazine comes to life in this new docu-series. Produced by Oscar & Emmy winner Alex Gibney, the pilot features a doc from Oscar winner Jonathan Demme based on Rachel Aviv's article "A Very Valuable Reputation," writer Ariel Levy interviewing artist Marina Abramovic, a sketch from Simon Rich and Alan Cumming, poetry read by Andrew Garfield, and cartoons by Emily Flake.

Noel Murray

Ned Ehrbar

The show’s half-hour format does a lot to recommend itself to viewers and not seem too daunting an investment of both time and brain-space. It all feels inherently easily digestible, and the hopscotching through topics keeps things fun and effervescent.

Rob Lowman

Eric Renner Brown

Should you care about avant-garde artist Marina Abramovic, ambient B-roll of an NYC barbershop, and sketch comedy featuring Paul Giamatti as french writer Honore de Balzac, you're in luck. Otherwise, prepare for an uneven watch that's often skippable as the unread issues piling up on your coffee table. [19/26 Feb 2016, p.109]

David Sims

Tim Goodman

It’s not exactly groundbreaking for television, which has done these kinds of unscripted explorations for years, but it’s a nice little add-on if you’re already a Prime subscriber and someone who readily views Amazon’s TV offerings.... When the series moves outside to bring to life in HD the many stories readers have become familiar with through the years, the results are more mixed.

Brian Lowry

Simply put, there’s just not much sense of urgency in, or compelling need for, The New Yorker Presents, which will offer two new installments each Tuesday.... Even those who enjoy leafing through a hard copy of its pages might find themselves feeling a trifle bored trying to wade through the video version.